Style: January 13, 2021

Style | Promotion 35
A special
collaboration
Even a global pandemic could not thwart
the plan for two of Christchurch’s most wellrespected
names in interiors to join forces.
Had those in the know spied the conversation over a
cup of coffee between two names synonymous with
interiors in Canterbury, they would have had an inkling
something rather special was on its way.
Well, less than a year later, they would have been
proven correct.
That cup of coffee between McKenzie & Willis’ general
manager Bill Willis and Belle Interiors’ founding and managing
director Colin Foggo has led to Belle Interiors moving from
its Victoria Street location to a showroom within McKenzie
& Willis on Blenheim Road.
“We were in the process of renovating the showroom
and it was a great time for us to be open to thinking
differently,” says Bill. “Part of the renovation was to really
lift our presentation and ourselves with an interiors-led
business. The discussion with Colin was so perfect – we
enthusiastically pursued it.”
And though Covid-19 tried its best to disrupt plans with
the March lockdown, these two stalwarts of the interiors
world were not going to be thwarted – the “store-within-astore”
opened in October.
Both brands have their history etched within the very
fabric of Christchurch. McKenzie & Willis was established
in 1906 and evolved from an auction house that also sold
second-hand furniture to a furnishing store. Its former
showroom on the corner of Tuam and High streets, with its
distinctive façades, was damaged beyond repair during the
February 22, 2011 earthquake, and a new showroom was
established on Blenheim Road.
Belle Interiors opened its original showroom in Merivale
in 1978, and brought to Christchurch the finest imported
furniture from international houses. Now, it has its own
collections designed by Colin and his son Cameron, and
manufactured in New Zealand.
“The Belle Collection is an exceptional range,” says Bill.
“The more we’ve got to know about it, it really is a credit to
New Zealand-made. It has a level of construction that you
get on the highest end international brands. To be associated
with the very best of New Zealand-made is just brilliant.”
The collection will be rolled out to all McKenzie & Willis
showrooms, which, says Bill, is causing a bit of anticipation
for staff within those stores.
“They were all aware of the Belle Collection and Colin’s
standing in the industry and to have access to that through
what we do, they are absolutely over the moon,” he says.
“Colin has been a linchpin in the interior design business
and he has got a skill set that we are delighted to try and
bring in, and impart on the rest of our team. We have
always done interior design but we are looking to project
it more strongly, and what better way than under the
tutelage of someone like Colin?”
Bill remembers his father John, talking about Belle well
before Bill was even in the industry.
“I knew my dad had enormous respect for Belle
and it was often referred to and discussed going well
back,” he says.
Perhaps, then, it is only apt that this mutual respect has
borne such a thoughtful collaboration, where individual
brands are respected yet lever on each other’s strengths to
enhance offerings.
What comes with such strong and loyal customer bases
is honest feedback. And so far, it has been good, says Bill.
“Our old customers say they love it,” he says. “Belle
has many similar but also very different clientele, and we
hope they see the new version of Belle and feel just as
connected to the brand they love, and that they will love
to sit in with another brand they hopefully already love or
will grow to love.”